Returning to school is both a challenge and an opportunity for growth. Balancing coursework with a demanding professional life requires intentional planning, self‑reflection, and adaptability.
For Jonathan Schulz ’26, enrolling as an online, part-time student at the College of Professional Studies was a transformative step in his academic journey and career. Navigating virtual classrooms while managing real‑world responsibilities pushed him to rethink how he approached learning, time management, and goal‑setting.
Reflecting on his educational experience, Schulz shares three important lessons he learned along the way.
1. Understanding My Strengths as a Leader and Learner
As a College of Professional Studies student with a major focusing on Business Management, I have an interest in business development and potentially running my own business. I gained skills in self‑assessment, identifying strengths and weaknesses, and recognizing areas for growth.
Taking multiple leadership classes, helped me become more of a successful manager and evaluate areas that I may have struggled in before. Introduction to Knowledge Management was valuable because it helped me see that information can be stored, shared, and conceptualized through different models to help highlight and examine different elements in business structures.
Additionally, the program taught me how I learn best. There were teaching methods that worked better than others and that helped me to become a better manager and teacher myself.
2. Time Management is a Skill You Have to Build
As a working professional with 45-50 hours of work a week, completing classes online, part-time made it easier to attain my degree. Sometimes it was challenging, and I had to get creative with multitasking. I would plan my free time around schoolwork in order to have a proper school-work-life balance.
Having access to the Syracuse University Libraries and Microsoft Office allowed me to keep myself engaged in my education. I would write down when assignments were due on a calendar in order to make sure they were completed in a timely manner.
Intentional time management is key!
3. Choosing the Right Path When You’re Ready
I took an 8 year break from my education and when I returned to it, I was much more focused than when I started. I took the time to research and thoughtfully choose an online, part-time program that was right for me. I had a friend who was doing her graduate program online at Syracuse and she motivated me to go to online as well.
Ready to take the next step toward your future?
Whether you’re advancing your career, changing paths, or finishing what you started, an online, part-time degree can fit your life and goals.